Wiktor Wise
Gary Numan's 1978 song 'Are Friends Electric?' is a new wave, electro-punk number that reached number one in the UK and established Numan as a solo artist. The song's mysterious lyrics are inspired by Numan's interest in dystopian science fiction and have been interpreted in various ways, with Numan himself stating that the song is about a robot prostitute. The song's composition, which combines bass, drums, and synthesizers, creates a unique and futuristic sound that captured the zeitgeist of the time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Are 'Friends' Electric? |
| Artist | Gary Numan |
| Genre | Electro-punk, new wave |
| Year of Release | 1978 |
| Album | Replicas |
| Song Inspiration | Numan's interest in dystopian science fiction; the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Blade Runner) by Philip K. Dick; the film Barry Lyndon |
| Song Meaning | The song is about a robot prostitute; it explores themes of personal alienation and loneliness |
| Song Composition | The song was composed on an old pub piano and later transferred to a Polymoog synthesiser |
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What You'll Learn
The song's lyrics are about a robot prostitute
The song 'Are Friends Electric' by Gary Numan is indeed about a robot prostitute. Numan himself confirmed this, stating that the song was about "a futurist version of getting pornography in the post". He also said that the song depicted "these machines that look human [and are] doing various services in these grey coats and they all look the same".
Numan also revealed that the song was inspired by the science fiction he was reading at the time, including works by Philip K Dick, such as 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' (which inspired the film 'Blade Runner'). The song is also loosely based on an idea for a novel that Numan had in mind as a teenager.
The lyrics of the song seem to support this interpretation. They describe a person who is "alone" and "lonely", and who has "no one to love". This person is also trying to understand "little deals and 'S.U.s', / And things that I just don't understand". The "S.U." is a reference to Su Wathan, Numan's girlfriend at the time, and "Gail Deal", a woman Su tried to set Numan up with. The song also mentions a "man outside" in a "long coat" and "grey hat", smoking a cigarette, which could be a reference to the "friends" that can be "summoned by telephone" to relieve loneliness, as described by Numan.
The song's title, "Are 'Friends' Electric?", could be interpreted as a question about the nature of these "friends", and whether they are literal electric androids or metaphorical "false friends whose friendship turns on and off, like an electric switch".
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Numan's image as cold and emotionless
Gary Numan's image has been described as "cold and emotionless", with his music often exploring man's relationship with machines. This perception of Numan may be due in part to his appearance and the aesthetic he cultivated in his early career. Makeup artist Mary Vango, who worked with Numan on the sleeve for "Are 'Friends' Electric?", described him as "unreachable" and "remote, but not aloof or arrogant". She also noted that he seemed "disconnected from nature" and that he was "terribly shy and couldn't make eye contact".
Numan's embrace of electronic sounds and synthesisers, as well as his interest in science fiction, further contributed to his cold and emotionless image. In an interview, Numan himself stated that most of his songs are about "man's relationship to machines". This theme is evident in "Are 'Friends' Electric?", which Numan has said is about a robot prostitute. The song's lyrics, with their references to "mechanical toys" and "replicants", further reinforce the perception of Numan as cold and detached from human emotion.
Numan's image and musical style stood in stark contrast to the popular music of the time, particularly the punk and pop genres. His record company was initially furious when he returned from the studio with electronic songs instead of the expected guitar-based punk or pop tracks. Despite this, Numan's unique sound and image resonated with audiences, and "Are 'Friends' Electric?" became a hit, reaching number one on the charts.
In later years, Numan continued to explore dark and remote themes in his music, as described by a journalist reviewing his 22nd album as "an apocalyptic concept album inspired by climate change and written during Donald Trump's rise to power". The journalist further characterised the album as capturing a "desolate mood" and featuring "mechanical, nihilistic" songs. Thus, throughout his career, Numan has consistently cultivated an image and musical style that challenges traditional emotional expression.
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The song's composition and use of instruments
The composition of "Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Gary Numan is notable for its pioneering use of electronic instruments, particularly the synthesiser. Numan wrote the song on an old pub piano that his parents had bought, which he did not realise was out of tune. The song is a combination of two different songs, which is why it is over five minutes long. Numan struggled to mix the two songs together, but eventually found that playing them one after another worked. The main melody is one note sharp because Numan hit a wrong note on the old piano, and he decided that it sounded better.
Numan has said that he converted all of his band's guitar-based punk songs into electro-punk numbers after hearing his first synthesiser, a Minimoog, and deciding that he wanted to make electronic music. He recorded "Are 'Friends' Electric?" on a Polymoog synthesiser played with one finger, which gave the song a very different and futuristic sound. He retained some bass and drums in the song so that listeners had "something familiar to connect with".
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The song's theme of personal alienation
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Gary Numan explores themes of personal alienation and the complex relationship between humans and machines. The song, with its futuristic sound, captures the singer's feelings of loneliness and disconnection.
The lyrics paint a picture of isolation and alienation, with references to peeling paint, a cold and impersonal room, and a sense of being alone and unable to understand one's surroundings. The song's protagonist finds themselves questioning the nature of friendship and love, asking "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and suggesting that their own "friend" may have broken down, leaving them with "no one to love".
Numan has stated that the song is about a robot prostitute, a futuristic version of pornography delivered discreetly, with the "friends" being mechanical beings that can be summoned for various services. This interpretation adds a layer of alienation, as the singer finds themselves in a world where human connection is replaced by transactional, artificial interactions.
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" also draws on Numan's interest in dystopian science fiction. The song is loosely based on ideas from a novel he had in mind as a teenager, influenced by works such as "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (the inspiration for "Blade Runner") by Philip K. Dick. Numan's early songs, including this one, often explored themes of being misunderstood and alone, which he attributed to his diagnosis of Asperger's.
Through its lyrics, sound, and the artist's performance and image, "Are 'Friends' Electric?" presents a thought-provoking exploration of personal alienation in a world where human connection is increasingly mediated by technology.
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The song's mysterious lyrics and their meaning
The song "Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Gary Numan has been the subject of much intrigue and interpretation due to its enigmatic lyrics. Numan himself has offered insights into the meaning of the song, revealing that it is about a robot prostitute. He shared that the song presents a futuristic scenario where machines that look human provide various services, all while maintaining anonymity, as described in the lyrics: "These machines that look human are doing various services in these grey coats and they all look the same".
The song's lyrics also allude to the idea of being able to hire friends, or "electric friends," by the hour for companionship or sexual intercourse. This theme is reflected in the lines: "You ring up and say you want a friend for something—it can be for sex, for talking, whatever you want—and they'll send one along. The friends were all identical—a grey man in a long coat". Numan further explained that the song explores the concept of personal alienation and was inspired by his own feelings of depersonalization while living in tower blocks in England.
The song's title, "Are 'Friends' Electric?" is believed to be a reference to the nature of these hired friends, questioning whether they are literal electric androids or metaphorical false friends whose friendship can be turned on and off like an electric switch. This interpretation is supported by the lyrics: "You know I hate to ask, but are 'friends' electric? Only mine's broke down, and now I've no one to love".
The song also includes references to Numan's personal life, such as "S.U." being a nod to his girlfriend at the time, Su Wathan, and "7.4" referring to the 7th and 4th letters of the alphabet, G and D, which stand for Gail Deal, a woman Su tried to set the young Gary up with.
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" was composed on a piano that Numan's parents had bought, and the unique sound of the song is attributed to Numan's limited musical abilities at the time. The song was later transferred to a Polymoog synthesiser, giving it a futuristic sound while retaining some bass and drums for familiarity.
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Frequently asked questions
The song is about a robot prostitute. Numan himself described it as a "futuristic version of getting pornography in the post".
Numan was inspired by a Stanley Kubrick film, Barry Lyndon, and his interest in dystopian science fiction. The song is loosely based on a novel Numan had in mind as a teenager, and draws heavily on 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' by Philip K Dick.
The lyrics refer to the idea of buying friends, or 'friends' who can be summoned by telephone to relieve loneliness. Numan himself has said that the song is about feeling misunderstood and alone.
The title refers to the idea of electric androids or machines that look human and can be hired for various services. It also reflects the song's theme of personal alienation.
The song is a combination of electro-punk and new wave, with slow synthesizers and a pounding bass. Numan's cadence—not singing, but not spoken—fits perfectly with the tempo.
